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Atlases

Current Activity

Promoting and publishing atlases is an integral part of BRC’s work. Atlases continue to be important for biological recording while also providing a basis for periodic review of the distribution of species within a taxonomic group. Atlas datasets are often used for research, including many of the examples given throughout this booklet. In 2014, coinciding with its 50th anniversary, BRC is supporting the publication of major atlases of dragonflies and bryophytes.

Key Outputs

Printed atlases now cover of 10,000 species of plants and animals. Many atlases are richly detailed reference works which include much more than distribution data. Atlases and their associated datasets have revealed major changes in species’ ranges over the past 50 years and are being used to address a growing number of research questions. Maps, species accounts and associated information within atlases are also increasingly used to make informative and attractive websites to support recording.

Group

Atlas

No. taxa

Animal: Vertebrates

Amphibians and reptiles

Arnold (1995)

14

Birds

Balmer et al. (2013)

510

Fish

Davies et al. (2004)

51

Mammals

Arnold (1993)

61

Green plants, lichens and myxomycetes

Bryophytes

Hill et al. (1991-1994)

1,038

Charophytes

Moore & Greene (1983) Moore (1986)

47

Seaweeds

Hardy & Guiry (2003)

629

Lichens

Seaward & Hitch (1982)

176

Myxomycetes

Ing (1982)

100

Vascular plants

Preston et al. (2002)

3,354

Vascular plants, brambles

Newton & Randall (2004)

330

Vascular plants, dandelions

Dudman & Richards (1997)

178

Vascular plants, hawkweeds

McCosh & Rich (2011)

431

Group

Atlas

No. taxa

Animal: invertebrates

Ants, bees and wasps

Edwards et al. (1997-2012)

461

Aquatic bugs

Huxley (2003)

61

Beetles, carabids

Luff (1998)

348

Beetles, click

Mendel & Clarke (1996)

73

Beetles, Cryptophagidae - Atomariinae

Johnson (1993)

48

Beetles, jewel and soldier

Alexander (2003)

58

Beetles, ladybirds

Roy et al. (2011)

47

Beetles, long-horn

Twinn & Harding (1999)

60

Beetles, seed and leaf

Cox (2007)

268

Beetles, water

Foster (1981-1995)

168

Bumblebees

Anon. (1980)

26

Butterflies

Asher et al. (2001)

66

Caddisflies

Marshall (1978)

32

Centipedes

Barber & Keay (1988)

41

Dragonflies

Cham et al. (2014)

57

Fleas

George (2008)

73

Flies, craneflies

Stubbs (1992, 1993)

93

Flies, ensign (Sepsidae)

Pont (1987)

27

Flies, hoverflies

Ball et al. (2011)

279

Flies, larger Brachycera

Drake (1991)

61

Flies, meniscus midges

Goldie-Smith (1989)

14

Flies, mosquitoes

Snow (1998)

35

Flies, snail-killing

Ball & McLean (1986)

63

Grasshoppers and allies

Haes & Harding (1997)

37

Harvestmen

Hillyard (2005)

24

Lacewings and allies

Plant (1994)

71

Leeches

Elliott & Tullett (1982)

16

Millipedes

Lee (2006)

56

Molluscs, land and freshwater

Kerney (1999)

213

Moths, Incurvarioidea

Bland (1986)

32

Moths, macromoths

Hill et al. (2010)

867

Nematodes

Heath et al. (1977)

55

Pseudoscorpions

Legg & Jones (1988)

25

Spiders

Harvey et al. (2002)

648

Ticks

Martyn (1988)

22

Waterlice and woodlice

Gregory (2009)

47

Animal: Vertebrates

Amphibians and reptiles

Arnold (1995)

14

Birds

Balmer et al. (2013)

510

Fish

Davies et al. (2004)

51

Mammals

Arnold (1993)

61

Future Challenges

Planned atlases will continue to extend the taxonomic breadth of mapped species distributions. Repeat atlases, such as those already published for Lepidoptera, birds and plants, often reveal important insights into the causes of change in species distribution, and generate new research questions. Additional ecological and environmental information, now integral to most atlases, help to interpret species distributions. A challenge is to incorporate complex new analyses of trends in an accessible way.